Dylan Brown is the latest NRL star to suffer from a holiday mishap as he recovers from an infection to his arm, stemming from a Bali holiday.
Brown, who only recently signed a deal which gives him the option to stay at the Eels until 2031, has only just returned to full training after the off-season misadventure.
It’s unlikely Eels coach Brad Arthur will use the 22-year-old in the grand finalists’ first pre-season challenge match, against premiers Penrith on Saturday, even though the NRL is offering a $100,000 prize for the winner of the 18-team competition. The Eels play Newcastle in their second trial on February 17.
The Kiwi international suffered a cut to his arm while in the holiday hotspot, but the problem intensified when it became infected and a clot developed.
Brown is still considered a strong chance of featuring for the Eels in their round one clash against Craig Bellamy’s Storm, a match which will open the NRL season at CommBank Stadium.
The news will come as a relief for Eels fans, who will already be without Ryan Matterson for the opening three rounds after the back-rower accepted a ban – rather than $4000 fine – for a crusher tackle in the grand final.
Parramatta Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown.Credit:NRL Photos
The Storm will be a formidable challenge for the Eels, who are trying to hand Bellamy his first-round one loss as coach of Melbourne in his 21st season.
Arthur will be in little rush to have Brown back on the park given his heavy workload last year, playing in all of Parramatta’s 28 matches during their grand final run and then helping New Zealand to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Brown spent the summer deciding on whether to re-commit to the Eels in the face of strong interest from Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, but announced in the week before Christmas he would take up a lucrative offer to remain in Sydney.
The deal will keep Brown at Parramatta until at least the end of 2025, but provide him with options through until 2031.
While Brown has bedded down his future in the blue and gold, Parramatta are sweating on a decision from halves partner Mitchell Moses, who is expected to make a call on whether he will stay in blue and gold before round one.
His potential retention will be a huge coup for the Eels, who last year charged into their first grand final since 2009.
The Eels will play their first official trial against the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday.
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